Button operated combination lock



June 20, 1939.

G. H. BRUINGTON 2,162,995

BUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCK Filed March '7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet AfTORNEK June 20, 1939. e. H. BRUINGTON 2,162,995

I BUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCK Filed March 7, 1939 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 20, 1939.

G. H. BRUINGTON 2,162,995

BUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCK Filed March 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r INVENTOR. 65am? fi. Bil/W670 524mg; ATTORNEY.

Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a push button combination lock for any desired use. The lock especially is valuable for useon'the doors on automobiles, houses, etc., but is, of course, not limited to these particular uses.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a positive, highly efiicient locking device, the entire control of which is accomplished by actuation of a series of push buttons in a pre-set combination sothat the use of keys is entirely eliminated.

Another object is to provide a push button combination door lock which can be instantly unlocked from one side of the door without use of the combination so as to adapt it to successful use on automotive vehicles.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. 20 These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like nu- 25 merals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates that face of the improved lock which is exposed on the outer face of the door showing the combination push buttons.

Fig. 2 is a side View of one section of the lock case with the other section thereof removed.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section through the lock taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, with both 35 sections of the lock case in position.

4 is a detail view illustrating a typical combination push button shaft as used in the sequence combination form of the invention.

A Fig. 5 is a cross section through the shaft taken on the line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail View, illustrating one of the solid shaft, locking buttons as used in the invention.

45 Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the lock taken on the line 7-1, Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional View illustrating the normal position of a push button shaft in the locked position.

Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating the head of the shaft in the depressed, operative position.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken on the line itlil, Fig. 8.

55 Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating the combination button shaft in the depressed, operative position.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the shaft of the release button of the improved lock in the normal and releasing positions, respectively.

Fig. 14 illustrates a non-combination or looking button shaft in the depressed position.

Fig. 15 is a cross section through the release button shaft, taken on the line l5l5, Fig. 13, illustrating it in the releasing position. 10

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of a typical push button and its shank.

Fig. 17 is a detail View of the spring stop member employed in the push button shanks.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section through a door 15 edge and jamb illustrating the position of the improved lock thereon and its associated latch mechanism. The section through the latch mechanism in this view is taken on the line l8-l8, Fig. 19.

Fig. 19 is a vertical longitudinal section through the latch mechanism, taken on the line Iii-I9, Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a vertical cross section through the latch mechanism, taken on the line 2!20, Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a similar section, taken on the line 2|2|, Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a detail view, illustrating a method for adapting the invention to close an electric signal circuit.

The lock is designed to be placed on the jamb at the side of a door, acting as keeper for receiving and holding the door latch bolt to pre- Vent the latter from being withdrawn from the keeper until the proper combination has been set by means of a series of press buttons.

In the drawings, the edge member of a typical automotive door is indicated at it and its adjacent jamb at ii. The locking portion of the invention is secured to the jamb l l and the latch bolt mechanism is mounted on the door edge member l0.

The locking mechanism is capable of use in two alternate ways, that is, a simple combination sys- 5 tom and a more complex sequence combination system. In the former if the chosen members are pressed in any sequence the lock will open.

In the latter, the chosen members must be pressed in a predetermined sequence. The arrangement for the latter form will be first described.

The improved lock is enclosed between two case blocks l2 and IS. The block I2 serves as a striker against which the inclined side of a latch bolt 5% strikes to force the latter back into the door. The block 52 is formed with, a socket 54. into which the extremity of the bolt snaps, when the door reaches its fully closed position, and with a rounded edge portion l5 against which the inclined face of the bolt strikes.

A series of parallel, square grooves are formed in the contacting faces of the two case blocks 52 and i3, which, when the two blocks are together, form square channels for receiving the shaft mechanisms of a series of push buttons [6.

The push buttons may be divided into three classes: First, the combination buttons which must be operated to release the lock; second, the locking buttons which if depressed will engage and lock the latch bolt; and third, the release button which resets all depressed buttons. As illustrated the buttons are numbered from #i to #9, inclusive and in the lock shown, button #5 is the release button, buttons #2, #6, and #9 r are the combination buttons, and the remainder are locldng buttons.

In the combination shown, all of the locking buttons, the release button #5, and the button #9, are mounted on solid square shafts 49. The buttons #2 and #6, however, are carried on collapsible shafts each consisting of a hollow square shank portion l'l telescopically fitted over the extremity of a square hollow staff portion IS.

A compression spring 29 is positioned in the bottom of each shaft channel to constantly urge the shafts 49 and the staffs l9 outwardly. In the collapsible shafts a second spring 19 is placed in each shank and acts between the button 16 and a'stop member 41 therein to constantly urge the shanks outwardly.

The stop member is shown in detail in Fig. 16 and consists of a small disc with projecting arms which extend thru slots 48 in the sides of the shanks into receiving notches in the case blocks to maintain them immovable. The movements of the shanks ll are limited by the lengths of the slots 48.

The shafts 49 and the shanks H are formed with side, ratchet-like, prongs 2! for holding them in their depressed positions. These prongs snap over projections 23 which extend inwardly from the sides of a pair of sliding latching frames 24 which surround the shafts and which travel in a cross channel 22 in the case blocks.

The adjacent ends of the latching frames are constantly held against the opposite sides of the shaft of the release button #5 by means of com pression springs 25. The shaft of this button is formed with wedge-like enlargements 26 at its opposite sides (see Fig. 1 2) which, when the button is depressed, force the two frames 24 apart (see Fig. 13) so as to move the projections 23 to one side (see Fig. 15) to release the prongs 2! so as to allow all depressed buttons to snap out.

Each of the shafts and each of the staffs carries a stop arm 21 and a combination arm 23 which project into the bolt socket 14 at each side of the head of the bolt 59, the stop arms 21 being toward the push button extremity. ()ne member of each pair of the arms is turned inward at its extremity to form a locking flange 29. The flanges 29 engage in elongated notches 39 and 3| formed in the front and rear faces, respectively, of the bolt head 50. The shanks I? are notched as shown at 56 to allow them to move over the staffs past the arms 21.

On the combination buttons 2, 6, and 9, the locking flanges 29 are formed on the inward arms 28 so that they will be normally held in the notch 3f by the staff springs 20. All the remaining buttons have the flanges 29 formed on the outer arms 21 so that they will be pressed into the notch 3| when the buttons are depressed. If the release button #5 is pressed at any time during the setting of the buttons, all will snap out to their original positions. Therefore, it is impossible to withdraw the bolt 50 until the three, and only the three, proper, buttons are depressed. Let us now assume that it is desired that the combination buttons must be pressed in the sequence #9-#6#2, before the lock will release. The shaft for the button #9, being solid throughout its length, will move as a unit against its spring 20. The shaft of this button is connected with a rocking lever 32, pivoted at 33 in the bottom of the case block. The other extremity of the lever 32 is connected to a wedge pointed plunger 34 positioned within the staff of the button #6. The staif of this button is formed with U-shaped cuts in two sides to form L-shaped expanding tongues 35 which, when the plunger is pressed into the staff will be expanded outwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, into the path of movement of the shank ll of that button.

Therefore, when the buton #9 is pressed, the wedge plunger 34 is pressed outward into the staff of the button #6 so that, when this button is subsequently pressed, its shank will engage the tongues 35 and push the staff l8 thereof downwardly. The staff of button #6 is connected by means of a staff arm 36 with a second rocking lever 3'! which extends over a pivot 38 to a plunger shaft 39 which in turn operates another wedge plunger 34 in the staff of the button #2 similarly to the previously described operation in button #6. This forces the expanding tongues 35 outwardly so that when button #2 is pressed its shank will engage its staff to force its flange 29 to the released position.

Therefore, buttons #9--#6-#2 must be pressed before the bolt can be released and they must be depressed in the above order, for if #2 is depressed before #6 or #9, its hollow shank will simply slide over the non-expanded tongues 35 on the staff without operating or moving the latter. Should any of the other buttons be pressed, the flanges 29 on their stop arms will enter the notch 30 on the latch to lock the latter until the release button #5 is pressed.

In the simple combination form .of the lock, where sequence is not desired, all of the button shafts are solid continuous members, similar to, the shafts 49, above, and all levers and plungers are omitted. The flanges 29 are placed on the combination arms of the button numbers in the combination and on the locking arms of the remaining buttons. If any number not in the combination is depressed the bolt is locked-if only the combination numbers are pressed the lock bolt is released. 7

It is, of course, necessary to provide some means for releasing the lock from the interior of an automobile or room where the buttons are not available. A construction to accomplish this is shown in Figs. 18 to 20, in which the bottoms of the .two slots 36 and 3| in the latch bolt 56 are formed with false-bottom members 42 which can be forced oppositely outward by means of two sliding plungers 40 having spear-like heads 4!. The plungers ride in grooves in the top and bottom of the latch bolt shank and are connected together by means of yoke plate 43 from which a shaft 44 extends to an unlocking button 50 in ton be pressed forwardly it will force the spear heads 41 between the false bottom members 42 causing the latter to force all locking flanges 29 from the slots 30 and 3! to release the latch bolt. The unlocking button moves with the movements of the bolt. The bolt 50 is constantly urged outwardly by means of a bolt spring 45 and can be drawn inwardly, when unlocked, by means of an exterior handle 46 which actuates a lever arm in the bolt shank to withdraw the latter.

If desired, the bolt may also be withdrawn from an interior handle (not shown) by means of a connecting rod 52 connected with the bolt shank.

The unlocking button 60 is retained in its two extreme positions by means of a click ball 53 which is forced into depressions 54 in the bolt shank by means of a ball spring 55.

The improved lock can, if desired, be very easily adapted in many ways for giving a warning signal should an unauthorized person attempt to tamper with it. This can be accomplished by running a push rod 51 (see Fig. 22) from the shaft 49 of one of the locking buttons, or from the shaft of the resetting button #5, through the end of the shaft channel. A pair of spring electric contact blades 58 and 59 are positioned in the path of the push rod so that when the button is pressed upon, a circuit will be closed between the two blades to the horn of the automobile or to any desired warning signal.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with the lock portion on the door jamb and the bolt portion on the door it is to be understood that the lock portion could be mounted on the door if preferred.

While a specific form of the improvement been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; and manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means.

2. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; a latching member for latching all of said shafts in the depressed position; and releasing means for releasing said shafts from said latching member.

3. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; a latching member for latching all of said shafts in the depressed position; releasing means for releasing said shafts from said latching member; and unlocking means carried by said bolt for forcing said combination and locking members out of engagement therewith.

4. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; and means interconnecting those shafts carrying the combination members so that the latter must be actuated in a pre-set sequence before they will act to withdraw the combination members from said bolt.

5. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; a shank slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the shafts carrying the combination members; a push button on the outer extremity of each shank and on the outer extremity of each of the remaining shafts; and means for connecting the shanks with their respective shafts, each of said latter means being operable in sequence by the actuation of a preceding shaft.

6. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; a shank slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the shafts carrying the combination members; a push button on the outer extremity of each shank and on the outer extremity of each of the remaining shafts; expanding members in each of the shafts having a shank; a wedge member in each of said latter shafts for expanding the expanding members into the path of the shank of that shaft so the former will actuate the latter; and a lever connecting the wedge member of each shaft with a preceding shaft so that said latter shafts must be actuated. in sequence.

'7. A push button combination lock comprising: a horizontally withdrawable locking bolt; a vertically positioned head on said bolt, having a vertical slot in each of its sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of said bolt head; a vertical series of parallel, horizontal, push button shafts extending across said channel ahead of said bolt; a pair of arms extending from each shaft, there being one arm on each side of said bolt; one arm of each pair being inwardly hooked to engage one of the slots in the head of said bolt, the hooked arms being arranged in opposite sides of said channel in accordance with a predetermined combination; spring means for urging said shafts outwardly to maintain one member of each pair of arms against the head of said bolt; and manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means.

8. A push button combination lock comrising. a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, with said bolt; a latching member slidable at right angles to the axis of said shafts; a projection on each shaft for engaging said latching member to hold said shafts depressed; and means for sliding said latching member to release said shafts when desired.

9. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; a latching member for latching all of said shafts in the depressed position; releasing means for releasing said shafts from said latching member; expanding members in the extremity of said bolt positioned to move outwardly in said indentations to force the locking members and the combination members therefrom; a wedge member longitudinally movable on said bolt between said expanding members to expand the latter; and manually operated means for actuating said wedge member to release said bolt from said lock.

10. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a locking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; and signal means actuated in con sequence of the depression of one of said shafts.

11. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a looking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said belt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt;a locking member on others said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; a latching member surrounding said shafts; a projection extending inwardly from said latching member adjacent each of said shafts; and a prong projecting outwardly from each of said shafts to engage the adjacent projection on said latching member to hold the shafts in the depressed position.

12. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a looking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; manual means for depressing said shafts against the action of said spring means; a push rod extending from one of the said shafts; and an electric contact plate secured to the extremity of said push rod and positioned to contact a second electric contact plate to close a circuit to a warning signal.

13. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a looking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channel adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said afts for engaging one of the locking indentations in said bolt; a locking member on others of said shafts for engaging the opposite locking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the vcombination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; a shank slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the shafts carrying the combination members; a second spring means urging said shank outward from said shalt; a push button on the outer extremity of each shank and on the outer extremity of each of the remaining shafts, each of said latter means being operable in sequence by the actuation of a preceding shaft.

14. A push button combination lock comprising: a withdrawable locking bolt having a looking indentation in its opposite sides; a lock case having a passage for the reception of the extremity of said bolt; push button shafts extending across said channed adjacent the path of said bolt; a combination member on certain of said shafts for engaging one of the locking inlocking indentation in said bolt; spring means for urging the combination members into engagement, and the locking members out of engagement, with said bolt; a shank slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the shafts carrying the combination members; a second spring means urging said shanks outward from said shafts; means for limiting the outward movement of said shanks; a push button on the outer extremity of each shank and on the outer extremity of each of the remaining shafts; and means for connecting the shanks with their respective shafts, each of said latter means being operable in sequence by the actuation of a preceding shaft.

GEORGE H. BRUINGTON. 

